As the Fall draws near, teachers all over the country are returning to their classrooms to plan and prepare for the upcoming school year. Many educators view this period as a time of rejuvenation, excitement, and willingness to start their new school year off positively. While this time signifies a new beginning, these moments can fade quickly as the challenges, tasks, and stress begin build as teachers return to the building.
The amount of work piled on teachers can spark the initiation of burnout early on in semester. Meetings, trainings, emails, new documentation, curriculum, and so on, bring on overwhelming feelings all before students even walk into classrooms. If left unsupported, burnout can start prematurely. This leaves teachers waiting and wanting their next long break far too early.
In no line of work do employees wish for stressful feelings and premature fatigue, especially educators. These are the individuals working with the next generation and those students need enthusiasm, enjoyment, and motivation displayed daily by their teacher. The overwhelmed, unsupported, and underappreciated teachers are direct results of the nation’s attrition problem. The day-to-day way of work makes it easy for discouragement and burnout to onset, leaving many teachers contemplating their career.
While school and educator challenges will never cease to exist, teachers can find reassurance that change is occurring. District leadership and legislators across the county have heard the cry and are making strides to remedy the situation. Policy changes, financial reallocations, and incentives have emerged in recent months, offering relief and hope across the educational landscape.
While these changes may take time, educators should be connecting with one another to mitigate isolation. Teachers need to combat negative emotions when faced with adversity in their schools by leaning on one another. Finding those teachers that are like minded, help you grow, assist you when needed, and listen to your concerns will help stressful situations become much easier to navigate. Getting back to having fun with colleagues is a great start in connecting and should be practiced at the beginning of the year.
Another key tactic in combating the negatives of teaching is revisiting your “why.” While this may seem cliché, knowing your “why” and branding that message within your daily routine helps keep things in perspective, helps to relieve stressful moments, and removes moments that you may normally take personally. Much is out of a teacher’s control and limiting those moments of frustration help to reduce negative attitudes and demotivation toward the profession.
These key points are only a few to consider as the new school year begins. Finding anything that helps to maintain motivation and momentum with students is crucial for teachers to seek. When having a rough day early on, think about the “why,” all of the changes that are occurring in education, and connecting with colleagues. These and other tactics will block the burnout and boost yourself to a fantastic year in your career.